Snow!!!

This past week has been very relaxing and yet busy at the same time. There has been lots of things going on around campus and i have still been working as much as i can at the rec center. This weekend i spent some time in the forest at a natural spring we found. I have been hanging out with friends and finally catching up on sleep. Last night a friend had a going away party with some djs and many people. A few of my friends are going to India for a quarter so it was a large gathering with many friends. Today it actually started snowing and by the afternoon there was at least a few inches on the ground. The next few days should hold much more snow I spent some time downtown and at the co-op; tonight we are having a big diner with parents of a friend... I will upload some snow pictures shortly. So far my plan is to leave on the 16th and head to Ashland, Lake Tahoe, then finally home again...

O So Cold

Its nice to finally have some free time, with little to worry about. Unfortunately i did not get into Tropical Rainforests because there were lots of applicants and seeing as it is a junior/senior class they got first priority. Im planning on staying in my current class next quarter and think it should be interesting... I still really want to travel but was unable to find any other classes which dealt with my focus. I have been working lots of hours at the rec center and getting lots of other things done. Im currently starting to brew kiefer and kombucha... and in a few weeks they will be ready! Its been getting really cold and last night it was 6 degress! We had a little light snow two nights ago, however there has only been frost since. Once the rain hits which will probably be this weekend, we are expecting LOTS of snow. Im planning on driving down with some friends next week back to the bay area, and i think we will be also stopping in Tahoe... Everything is great currently and its nice to finally have some time to sleep and relax.

Last Week

This is the last week of class for me. I should find out on friday if im accepted into Tropical Rainforests, however i talked with the teachers yesterday at the academic fair and since im a sophomore im the lowest priority. However, i may just end up staying in my current program if nothing else catches my eye. here are some pics from our fun trip down to California... Iv just about finished all my work up for this quarter and wrote a long integrative paper and composed a portfolio. All is well and i will update everyone on more stuff when i get the time...

Chill Week

This has been much calmer and its nice to finally have things slowish for the moment. Class was great this week and we are now reading a book about Darwinian Medicine and that to have a correct treatment, one needs to know if the symptoms benefit the pathogen or patient. An interesting example of this is with fevers is how your body heats up to actually raise core temperature and decrease iron content in the blood(bacteria thrives off iron). Although a high enough fever can be serious and need medication, most people actually recover in twice the time when allowing the fever to take its course and don't use any fever reducers. Another important issue is that antibiotics dosage should not be increased if they do not work. Instead the users should try another. Its also good to avoid long term exposure to antibiotics fighting diseases. All this is because an pathogen can replicate, mutate, and expand into a diverse mix of strains with some being antibiotic resistant.
I have also been doing lots of research on the foot and its evolution and development. In a study done comparing four groups of people(Current Europeans, two African groups, and a hunter-gather group from 10,000B.C.E. What they found is shocking, feet over the span of 10,000 years have actually structurally changed for the worse. The metatarsal bones in our feet have shortened and are much more prone to fraction and abnormal bone growth. The group with the highest rate of foot pathologies was Europeans then Africans, while the hunter-gather group had almost none. Basically are feet have permanently changed and are more prone to ailment, however development still plays a key role and by breaking the foot free from the shoe you can restore atrophied muscles, correct certain foot deformities, and improve you balance/agility.
This week i donated blood for the second time(im finally eligible again). I also talked with the teacher from Tropical Rainforests and he said to fill an application out and there is a chance i could get in. My class has been much better recently and it will work out staying in this class if im not accepted. This morning i went for a 15mile ride along the coast of Olympia to downtown where i ran some errands. Im now at work and since its a slow day im getting lots of work done.
Hope every things great!

Weekend/Week 7

This weekend was very fun and i had a great time with friends. Last week we had a great potluck downstairs on Thursday and on Friday i worked from 2 to 830. Once off i went and made food and went on a journey with some friends to the beach in the rain. We all layered up and wandered down to the beach were we then huddled together under a large tree. It was very refreshing and revitalizing and we all had a great time. Once we returned we all got very comfortable and warm. On Saturday i went to the sauna in the morning and later went to the East-side co-op and did lots of food shopping(im now a member of the co-op). That night some friends and me went to my friend Maya's house and had a great potluck. On Sunday we did some major cleaning in our apartment and got it looking clean again. Later i went downtown to Cafe Vita with a friend and we studied there for a few hours. After getting lots of work done we had dinner at QB. Im having a great time despite the cold rainy weather! Its week seven already and in two weeks i will be leaving for California with some friends! School is going by way too fast and im figuring many future plans and ideas out.

Halloween

This weekend was so much fun and as usual very busy. Saturday morning i chilled with friends and went on a little hike in the forest and saunaed. Later that day i went to my friends house and helped her decorate for Halloween. We put up many lights and and cleaned the place up for the party later that night. That night a few bands and djs played and there was a strobe light along with amazing beats. It was a very fun and tiring night after all the dancing. Sunday was a rest day and i mainly recuperated from the night of partying. On Monday i had a short class and learned about brain disorders and how if one part is damaged the brain will overcompensate in another area. After class i went for a swim and sauna and than caught up on lots of reading This class has been very interesting so far, however im going to try to switch into anther class for winter quarter. Im talking to the teachers and am trying to work something out because its a junior/senior class but i am very interested in it. Its called tropical rain forests and focuses on biodiversity and includes backpacking and a three week trip to Costa Rica!!! keep your fingers crossed!!!

Didgeridoo

As usual this week has been jampacked and its always a relief to make it to Friday where i finally have some time to relax a bit. Last night we had a large potluck at our place and there was so much food that for the first time we actually had leftovers!!! I also went to a crystal shop which a family operates in their barn and got some cool rocks, candles, and incense. This morning i went downtown and purchased some pvc and will be making a didgeridoo with a beeswax mouthpiece. I am also going to paint it and add lots of color and patterns. The rest of the day i have spent at work and once i get off i will sit in the sauna for a little and then head back home.

Yoga

As usual my week has been packed and filled with lots of school work. We started reading An Anthropologist on Mars by Oliver Sacks which contains many accounts of neurological disorders such as color blindness and tourettes syndrome... Its amazing how the brain can restructure itself(neuroplasticity) and how it can overcome/compensate for ailments. After class today i went to a yoga class which was great and hit the sauna after. I have been cleaning my room up a lot today and also did some laundry. The weather is beginning to get much colder and it has been very rainy and gray recently. Halloween will be here soon i am going to be Aladdin and some companions are also dressing up to that theme. A friend is having a party at here place and there will be some djs and bands performing!!! Everything is zooming bye and i cannot believe its already week 5.

Sweet Food

This week has been the busiest so far and things are definitely starting to pick up. Over the weekend i went to a potluck at a friends house and had a fun night with burritos and some fun games. We also hosted a sprouting workshop at our apartment and my roommate, Ed, taught people how to grow sprouts such as lima, broccoli, alfalfa... We have been eating amazing food and some of my roommates also gathered parasol mushrooms and we made a big soup with potatoes. I have been doing lots of reading and writing and just turned in a mid-quarter portfolio. The weather has been pretty mild and there has been a bit of rain and a little sun. I have met many amazing people and it feels like i have a community around me.

Week 3

This weekend was a lot of fun and there always seems to be something to be doing. On Saturday the organic farm on campus had a harvest festival with pumpkin carving, garlic tasting, live music, fresh cider, and many instructional classes. I went to this in the morning with a bunch of people from my building and had some amazing coffee cake and bread people made. Later i went mountain biking in the forest with a friend and rode some trails and also went back to the farm to chill for a bit. That night my roommate Pat had a show downtown and we gathered a large group of people and all enjoyed some amazing music. Class has been great and i am currently doing a research project on the implications of shoes. There is a significantly high rate of flat foot and other foot ailments in children who wear shoes compared to those who don't. I have found many research articles and overwhelming support(i.e. worlds fastest long distance runners originate from Africa and use no shoes and rarely have injury's...). I still have a lot to study but basically shoes should be avoided unless to protect against lesion or cold... I have two regular shifts at the rec center now. I am working Tuesdays from 8am to 230 and Friday from 2pm to 830. This schedule will remain for the rest of the quarter. Yesterday i went to a yoga class and today i played racket ball! im feeling very healthy and have been eating great food! The weather has been very rainy here and the winter is definitely setting in(we may get snow at night in a few days!)

Draconids Meteor Shower

Yesterday i had class in the morning during which we had a seminar on texts and a lecture about biology. Later i went and relaxed on the sunny field with some friends and also went to the sauna. Im starting to feel much better now and it should be a great weekend. Last night we had a potluck in the apartment below us. Our place cooked up a friends recipe which contained some tomatoes, squash, onions.... At the potluck we also had cucumber bread, vegetable rice, a mixed green salad, and many cookies. After eating and socializing i went out to the field with some friends and heavy blankets and got comfortable while watching the draconids meteor shower. I had a very early morning today and am working at the rec center from 8 to 11. yawn....

Warm Days Cool Nights

Everything has been very amazing and the weather has been beautiful. I try to spend as much time as i can reading or with friends out in the sun on the field. On Friday i worked at the rec center and later went to a friends apartment and chilled with some friends. On Saturday after doing some reading i went into the forest with friends and ventured all around. Later that night we had a big pasta meal and watched a movie. On Sunday i had a training at the rec center which basically reviewed safety and shifts. We are still on a temporary schedule and should have a regular one soon. Part of the training included a glove wearing test with fake blood to make sure we could remove bloody gloves without getting it on us... Iv never seen anything that bad occur here though. On Monday i had class and my other teacher, Brett, was finally here. He is my seminar leader and is very interesting. He reminds me of a nicer version of House. Unfortunately i have had a cold the past few days and am trying to recover as fast as possible. Everything has been pretty low key and iv just been lay low and reading lots.

Time Flys

This year seems to be moving even faster than last year. Its hard to find any down time and there is always stuff going on. Today i had class from 9 to 3, in the morning we had a seminar on both a child development and a Richard Dawkins book. The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins is an amazing book and it actually traces the earliest forms of life and how they developed. The beginning of life all started when atoms managed to fall into a stable pattern creating a molecule. Eventually a molecule called a replicator was formed and it possessed the unique ability to create copies of its self. Nothing is perfect however and some of these copies had errors and the ones which proved beneficial survived. These new survivors were able to break down other molecules and could also live longer. They began to grow more and more complex and soon starting building "survival machines" for themselves. Replicators essentially exist in all life including humans. The book also explores selfishness and altruism in all living forms. My class has been very interesting so far and i have been doing lots of reading and writing. After class i went for a short bike ride downtown, unfortunately its started to rain on the way back and i got pretty soaked. I am currently at work and am working 5-9 today and tomorrow. This weekend we are having a meeting and will begin a normal work schedule soon. I now have a three day weekend to work and possibly fit in a little relaxation.

First Day of Human Health Evolution and Development

Today i had my first day of class and so far it has exceeded my expectations. In the morning we talked about developmental psychology and the stages of infant, children, adolescent, and adult. We also reviewed the biological growth starting with a zygote(single cell with chromosomes from both parents). Unfortunately one of my teachers has the swine flu and might not make it the next few days. In the afternoon we watched and discussed a movie about midwives and how its typical for most women to have babies in hospitals in America, while in almost all other countries midwives are the standard. The United States spends almost twice the amount of money on a birth in a hospital than almost all other places. In addition patients are drugged with pharmaceuticals which messes with hormonal levels and ultimately compromises the birth. Almost all drugs used in births at hospitals have proven to have horrific consequences. The majority of births in hospitals occur at 4pm and 10pm when doctors want to leave therefor they induce or resort to cesarean. I can go on and on about this subject and everyone should definitely research this. It pretty incredible how science and hospitals seem so trust worthy and its true most of the time. The most natural way to give birth is to be on your feet and laying in a bed actually closes the cervix........ This class is amazing and i am learning so much!

PICTURES!

Potluck

Wow this week is going by very fast and i am beginning to get back into the swing of college life. On Wednesday i completed the training at the rec center and am now picking up shifts when i can. That night we had some people over to help us decorate the place. We put cardboard up on the walls and painted on them. Yesterday i explored the forest with some friends and later had a potluck with some people in our apartment building. We made a large stew with many vegetables including some we got from the organic farm on campus. The room above us cooked two apple pies and some cookies. This morning i volunteered on a sustainable agriculture farm as part of the community outreach day. I went with a few friends and we were given shirts and snacks and driven out to Centrailia where a student getting his masters in environmental studies was creating a farm. After i went to the gym then had some food and am now sitting at the front desk of the rec center working hard... Everything is going very well and i am loving my new housing situation!

Return to Evergreen!!!

I have been back at Evergreen for four days now and so far it has been amazing! Im living in the sustainable apartments with three other guys all from Northern California. Our apartment was just remodeled and everything is brand new. Everyone is really nice and there are so many new cool people here. So far there has been an Evergreen orientation day were we had nachos and met other people in our building. I also went into the forest with some friends and made a small fire. I have all my school books now and have already started reading them(class starts monday). Today i went to the gym and will begin working there again after training tomorrow. I also went to the first sauna of many this year. Later i went into the field and relaxed in the sunny warm weather and did some reading. Just as i arrived back at my apartment building(N building) a group of people were leaving for a bike ride to some apple trees. I hastily gathered my bike gear and rode off with them. It was a short 5 mile ride and we collected so many apples and a few berries. Unfortunately right as we were about to take off i noticed my rear tire was flat. I discovered a nail logged inside it and quickly began to repair it. However, my spare tube had the wrong valve size, luckily someone else had a patch kit for me to repair the tube. I am having an amazing time so far and am having fun meeting new people. pictures will be here soon

Summer

Its been a very long time since i have posted here, but my summer has been pretty laid back. I just got back from a one night trip alone at Point Reyes, check the photos out here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=93691&id=631538370&l=7d4812d301 .
The trip was lots of fun even though it was a bit cold and foggy. I still dont have a full time job, however i am selling a bike, doing yard work for friends, and i also tried canvassing for prop 8(very difficult). Its nice to be back home, however i still really miss Olympia. Iv been doing lots of biking and hopefully will be riding from Washington to California with 3 other friends. Hope all is well

Beautiful Week

This week has been beautiful and very relaxing. I ended up working 14 hours and besides that iv been saying goodbyes to lots of people. Many of my friends have started to head home and the dorms are starting to become quieter. This past week felt like California and almost everyday was above 80 and very sunny. However, yesterday finally cooled down(only to the 70s'). Last night i went and saw three all student created plays. Tomorrow i have my evaluation with my teacher and then i will be done for the year! All i have left to do is pack my stuff up and move it all to the storage unit i rented.

End of school

The school year is coming to an end very fast. I have my last day of class on Monday and then i have to deal with moving and evaluations. On Friday my group ran an activity called "The Barking Tree" and taught kids from 2nd to 7th grade about conifer and deciduous trees. We each researched a particular tree and informed the kids about the importance and uses of it. My tree was the western red cedar which is unique to the pacific northwest and has lots of cultural significance and uses with the Native Americans. The weather has been super nice here and in the 70s and 80s most days thus i have spending lots of time outside. I have also been trying to cover lots of hours at my job since i don't know if i will have one when i go back home. Im trying to pack lots of things in these next two weeks and hope to do some backpacking or camping.

Sasquatch

This weekend has been an amazing journey and i feel like i know Washington way more now. On Friday after class i met up with some friends Molly, Emma, and Maggie and we began the drive to Seattle. We planned on stopping at Folk Life in Seattle and staying there the night, however the car broke down and we were stranded on the highway. Luckily there was a bus stop close by so once Molly's car was towed we rode the bus to downtown and went to Emma's brothers house. We spent the night there relaxing and preparing for the show. The next day we drove to the gorge to see the 3 day festival Sasquatch with Kendrick(Emma bro) and had a long, yet stunning ride though the snowy mountains and into the dry region of Washington. The Gorge Amphitheater is a giant place and was actually rate #1 venue. Its sits in the middle of a canyon right over the Columbia river. We arrived late on Saturday and met up with a few more cars filled with friends and then all set up camp together. That night we were able to get into the show for free and had lots of fun in the dance hall which had djs and light shows. On Sunday after waking up in the burning heat we decided to drive to vantage point and go swimming in the Columbia river. This water is basically glacial melt and was freezing, but still very refreshing. We later headed back to camp and relaxing in the sun. That night we also got into the show for free and saw Janes Addiction and heard lots of djs. I decided to go back on Monday with a few people and was able to catch a ride to Seattle and than i had to take many buses from there to Olympia. It was a little overwhelming due to the random memorial day bus schedule, however it all worked out and i made it back in around 7 hours. Today i had class and we continued planning out the science carnival. I have found some friends to live with next year and we will be staying on campus. Back to the cleaning, unpacking, and recovering.

Bowling

These past few days have been lots of fun, yet very busy. On Wednesday i ran an activity with some classmates for seventh graders from the program gear up. We played an ecology game with them and ended up having lots of fun. The goal of this program was to encourage students to stay involved with school and continue there education to college. Next i registered for classes and will be taking human health evolution and development which consists of developmental psychology, evolution, human biology and health. Later me and some friends went downtown and did some bowling. It was fun and is a cool college scene, there always seems to be Evergreen students there. After bowling we went and got hotdogs. I got a vegan dog which was surprisingly tasty. We then went back to campus and watched a movie. Today has been very relaxed and just trying to get lots of work done. I think this week i will be going with some friends to Sasquatch which is a 3 day music festival at the Gorge. We will be camping there and might travel to Seattle for a folk festival also. I still have a lot of things to figure out but will update my plans when they are figured out.

Mima Mounds

This weekend was very nice and relaxing. I spent the majority of time outside reading on the grass. The weather was in the high 70's all day, however now its cooling down and will probably rain soon. Today i went on a class trip to Mima Mounds located 30 minutes from campus. This place is very sacred and also highly valued by ecologists. Prairies cover the land and consist of wildflowers and wild grass growing on these mounds. There are many theories about how these occurred such as: gophers over a large period of time piled glacier dirt, glacier melting and runoff, and Native American interaction. Native Americans used to burn this area every few year to fertilize the soil and maintain the prairie. The park rangers perform controlled burns of this area every few years to keep this unique state. Unfortunately we were only able to spend a 2 hours here, yet it was still very interesting. After we got back i had some lunch and then went to yoga. Yoga only had one other person today so it was pretty much a private and very intense class.

Academic Fair

On Wednesday i went to the academic fair and found three interesting classes for next year. I'm still deciding between The Mathematical Order of Nature, Introduction to Environmental Studies, and Human Health, Evolution and Development. I also might try to take a wilderness first responder course offered here this summer. On Thursday i mostly tried to finish reading and work up and later had work at the rec center. Today i picked up my first paycheck which was very nice! In the morning i had seminar about wildlife films/books and how they portray nature to people. In the afternoon we had a lab dealing with botany and pollination. We learned about a the interesting cycle with plants and animals and the various symbiotic relations which exist. Plants are much more complex then they appear and many have interesting and almost magical properties. Many plants have coloring which can only be seen under UV light, however most animals are able to see this and it guides them to nectar. Anther surprising fact is the ability for plants to generate heat. Lotus's can maintain an internal temperature of 80 degrees even when the outer temperature is 50 degrees. This encourages bugs to land in the flower and mate/feed which in turn helps the plant pollinate. Today has been very beautiful and this weekend should be very nice!

Wheres Spring At?

These past few days have been very gloomy and rainy, its also gotten colder recently. The weather is crazy here and does not seem to fallow any seasons. On Monday i went to class with my sister, unfortunately all she was able to view was a speaker about the Cool School Challenge and how setting goals and dedication are the best way to heal the environment. We also watched a slide show about the trends in global warming and how its necessary to reduce emissions 85% by 2050 before permanently damaging this planet and our lives. During the lunch break i took my sister to the greenery then we relaxed in my doom until her shuttle arrived. After lunch i returned to class and began auditing the schools energy use and brainstorming ideas to cut energy use and increase sustainability. On Tuesday we gave presentations about our science projects(my groups is running a station which teaches about trees) and later had a lab involving memory and effective ways to teach and learn. Today so far has been very wet and dark so im just getting lots of reading and writing done and will probably do some yoga later.

Remy at Evergreen!!!

This weekend has been lots of fun and i have been showing my sister around Olympia and Evergreen. On Friday we walked around campus and hiked in the woods and went down to the beach. At the beach we saw a family of red foxes and sat and watched them for a while. There was a large mother fox and five babies. Later we went to the gym and used the saunas. After we met up with my friend Moses, who was attending freshmen introduction day. We then went to Ezzys apartment and had diner there. On Saturday we relaxed on field and read our books. Then we went to the gym and played racquetball and went to the sauna. Later we met Ezzy downtown and ate Indian food. Finally we attended an Orissi Indian dance performance which included the number one orissi dancer in the nation. Today we had a very lazy morning and watched the movie Earth. After we went into the forest with some friends and explored the tree houses. We have been having lots of fun and tomarrow we will check out my class.

Lotsa Rain

Its been a smooth transition back to the school work and life after the trip. This weekend was very relaxing and also productive. I have been doing lots of reading for class and am meeting my science group later to plan our educational station. Yesterday i tried yoga with some friends, everyday the yoga club hosts free classes. The class was about a hour and a half and was almost as intense as bikram. After i went and soothed my sore muscles in the sauna. Im very sore now from it, and am going to try to go twice a week. Im still trying to figure out summer and fall plans and hopefully will have it all figured out soon.

Educating on the WIld Side!!!

Day 1

These past few days have been a blur and I'm still recovering from this super fun trip. Our class left at 730 on Saturday and began our drive to Idaho. Each van had 2 drivers, i started off sleeping in the back for a few hours than i switched with the other driver and drove around five hours to Farwell Bend State Park. On the way we stopped at some gigantic waterfalls which were stunning. We made a few other stops on the way at various rest stops then eventually stopped in a small town called Huntingvile. We ate at a old redneck restaurant in a large room next to the main bar. The food was terrible, but held us down for a bit. We then headed to the park and set up camp. It was super windy and cold, yet the sky was very beautiful as a result of the low light pollution. I slept outside in between peoples tents, and actually slept very well.

Day 2

Today we left from Farwell Bend at 7 and began our drive to Utah. This drive took around 11 hours, and i drove around 7 of them. It was very crazy and began snowing during the drive which was very surreal in dry Utah. On the way we stopped at Bear River Wildlife Refuge in Utah. This place consists of over a hundred acres of wetlands. There are roads which loop throughout the park and we drove around then eventually walked some of the trails. This place is filled with many majestic birds such as hawks, owls, pelicans, pheasants, finches, cranes... We were able to look at all of these birds though fancy powerful equipment from the school. One very amazing site was when we viewed a group of 5 pelicans swimming and eating synchronized. The place we were at had an excellent view of the Wasatch mountain range and we were able to view a line on the range which showed how salt lake used to be massive and covered a great amount of land. Later we headed to the city of Odgen and camped out at the Ogden Nature Center. This place is very unique because its roughly the size of one city block within the city. This place is truly wild and has packs of wild deer, turkey, rabbits, mice, snakes... There are many trees and a huge swamp lies in the middle of the refuge. We camped in the back of the park by two large tree houses and had bathrooms and electricity. I shared a tent with a friend from class. Later this night we cooked a peanut stir fry which was very tasty(one of my classmates used to be a chief!). After diner we sat around a large fire and roasted smores.

Day 3

On Monday we were woken up and rushed at 7 to get ready for the day. In the morning i worked with grads from NAU(Northern Arizona University, This was one of my college choices) and helped them with an ongoing project involving cotton wood trees and symbiotic fungi. We helped them collect data by taking four soil/root samples from each tree at the directions N,E,S,W. We dug into the dirt a meter away from the tree base and then sifted through the dirt for fine cotton wood roots and then bagged and labeled them for further study. After this we rushed back to camp and than after changing into hiking gear headed to the Wasatch front. The city abruptly ends and the mountain range takes over. We decided to do a 3 mile hike to Malans Peak. This hike was amazing and very intense. We began by hiking up into a little canyon next to a river and eventually the switchbacks took us higher up. The environment began to change as we got higher up and soon the whole landscape was covered in snow! It felt like i was climbing Mt. Everest and we had to be very careful not to slip. When we made it to the top we rested at the clearing and had a short seminar about wilderness and the transition of nature and city.

Day 4

Yet again we woke up super early and headed to the nature center headquarters. We were supposed to work with kinder gardeners, however the class never showed up. Instead we helped the educators prep activities and we also toured the facilities. They have a large raptor center which takes in injured and desensitized birds. Some of the birds they had were pelicans, golden eagles, owls, hawks, and ravens... After this we drove to various sections of the Weber River and studied how the surrounding ecology was effected by the city. In many parts erosion had influenced the river and created at risk areas for housing close by. We also looked at one area in which the plants were dieing due to the large amount of paint ballers who shot up the area. We had some very interesting discussions about how to educate people about environmental issues such as these. Later this evening we had a seminar on the book Last Child In The Woods which is a very insightful text about nature deficit disorder and how its contributing to attention disorders, depression, and obesity.

Day 5


WE left camp at 6 and headed back to Washington. The night was very stormy and there were thunder/lightening storms so i packed up the tent the night before and slept in a trees house which was lots of fun. Unfortunately i did not hear the wake up call and woke up a few minutes before 6. I stuffed everything in my pack and jumped into the back of the van and slept for a few hours. Later i took over driving and ended up driving 10 hours back to Washington. We ended up arriving around 9 back on campus. This trip was lots of fun and i have bonded with many of my classmates. Now i have lots of time to relax, the other half of the class is going camping in Northern Washington so i have no class this next next week. I still have assignments and will be watching several nature films and reading a book about natures influence in media. Im also going to start solidifying my plans for the science carnival with my group. You can check out photos from the trip here http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=81102&id=631538370&l=5ebb772909

Idaho and Utah!!!!

These past few days have been productive and i have not only completed lots of school work, but have also logged over 11 hours of work at the gym. The good weather is leaving and it has been rainy today. Tomorrow i have class which consists of seminar and lab. This weekend there is a big festival called Procession of the Species, which i will unfortunately be missing. However i will still be able to attend a light opening tomorrow night! Early Saturday morning i will be leaving for Idaho and Utah so i still need to do some packing!

Beautiful Weekend

This weekend has been amazing and it felt like summer due to many people frolicking outside and the burning weather. On Saturday i went for a short bike ride around Olympia, then went to the sauna after. Later my friend Ti'eri, from Alaska, had a birthday party at Ezzy's apartment. It was Mexican themed and we cooked lots of good food and had cake. Sunday was a very lazy day and i hung out in the sun with friends and did some reading. Later, I met my friend, Moses, who flew up to Washington from the bay to check out the college. Unfortunately he only had one full day here, but i had some time to kick it and show him around campus. That night i watched a movie with friends. Monday morning i had a short class out in the forest. Part of my class broke into small groups and taught the rest of class about organisms and the large diverse amount of life. We also shared thoughts about styles of teaching and whether being energetic or calm was more engaging. We decided that both were necessary for energy can hype an activity too much, and yet calmness can loose interest and control. Basically depending on age, setting, and behavior one must tune and constantly reevaluate education techniques. Today my class learned about Project Wet which focuses on water and teaches many important and relevant information about the water cycle. We tried a few activities from the project book and reflected on how adapting these "games" can educate society. An example is a river game we tried in which we develop(draw) water front property and look how it effects life downstream. Its practically impossible to have a pollution free area, due to septic tanks(leak into environment), docks(kick up sediments), and livestock(there waste seeps into soil and water). Livestock is one of the greatest causes of pollution and though simple steps, such as releasing waste during a dry spell so that rainwater cannot cause runoff, the environment can be significantly cleaner(healthier for everyone). The rest of this night im going to try to get more reading finished. Tomorrow im subbing at work from 3-6, then i also have work on Thursday from 445 to 9. Everythings going very well and im currently trying to figure out all my Summer plans!

First Day of Work

Yesterday i had my first day at work. I have a regular shift from 445 to 9pm every Thursday, and this job rocks! I worked part time at the front desk and part in the equipment checkout office and was trained by other employees. Both jobs are pretty relaxed and they mainly consist of greeting people, answering phones, checking ids, and cleaning the gym. I get paid minimum wage and am able to work on homework and art during the job(due to lots of downtime). Today i had class and in the morning we had seminars and in the afternoon we had a lab teaching adaptation. We also talked more about the trip to Utah and decided what we wanted to eat on the trip. After class i went to a friends place close by and hung out in his rural backyard. Its going to be a nice weekend here so hopefully i will be able to spend lots of time outdoors.

Batik

here are pictures of the community art studio and the batik i made. I still have to pick it up and wash the wax off it. Yesterday my class learned about ecology in the forest. We spent two hours in the cold rain, the lesson was very interesting, however i am kinda sick as a result. Today we learned about Project Learning Tree which is a k-12 program which educates students about the environment. The class is beginning to pick up and we are planning the trip to Utah and creating presentations for a science carnival.

Procession of the Species

This has been a busy week and iv had lots of work. On Monday we learned about an nature program called Project Wild which educates students about environmental issues and sustainability. On Tuesday we learned about The Nature Program which collects data from the public dealing with species to evaluate diversity. Finally on Friday i gave a presentation about Biomes, a classification of a specific area and nature community. Last night Ezzys room mate cook a ton of food and had a Seder. Today i went downtown with Ezzy and we worked at a communal art center. This place teaches the public various art forms such as batik which we both tried. Later this month there is a fair downtown called the Procession of the Species which has lots of art in it. I also now have a shift from 445 to 9 at the rec center on Thursdays. Tonight I'm going to a party in a friends barn which will be fun.

Beautiful Day

Today was very nice and the weather was probably the best it has ever been. The grass field by housing was full of people today and i spent the day hanging out with friends there. I did some reading out in the sun than later played frisbee and soccer. I also had my job training at the rec center and the shifts seem very chill. I do not have a permanent position yet and will be subbing for people. Everything's going very well right now and class has been great!

Got a Job!

So far it has been a smooth transition from break to school. On Tuesday my class looked at styles of teaching and how educational games can aid the process of learning. We tried out various ecology games and studied the impact and potential learning of each. Last night Ezzy cooked an awesome tai diner using new pots and pans sent to her. I also got a job at the rec center on campus and having training this Sunday. The weather is becoming much more pleasant and the nights are way more bearable. There's a little sun out right now and im off to take advantage of it while i still can.

Educating on the Wild Side

I had my first day of class today and so far it is seems very amazing! This program mainly focuses on environmental education and deals with raising environmental awareness in k-12 education settings. We will also be learning about ecology and biology and will be going through an environmental education training program. During week 5 my seminar group is going on a trip to Ogden, Ut. and Wasatch Range. This area has a nature center which raises environmental awareness. The class is very diverse and has people of all ages in it. While on the trip our class will run educational stations and teach local k-12 students about ecology issues. This class is very exciting and feels dense with knowledge. I also finished the mural, which i am very pleased with, and will upload photos soon.

Back to campus Life!

I arrived back on campus after a long day of traveling at 7pm. The weather today is much nicer and the sun has finally made its way out of the clouds. Yesterday it was very rainy and even snowed a bit, it was very shocking going from warm and sunny to the rain. After arriving on campus and unpacking i went over to Ezzy's place and she surprised me and had moved into an apartment across the street from school. We had dinner at her place, which is very nice, however she still needs to get more furniture. She moved in with a friend of mine who lives in San Fransisco. Today i unpacked and cleaned my room up, i also went to the gym which is starting to be repaired! The saunas benches were all replaced and they even added a third bench to the room. I have my first day of class tomorrow so i still need to prepare and check requirements.

Huge Room!

A lot has happened in the past few days. Yesterday i successfully switched rooms two doors down. My new room is easily double the space of my old room and has a nice big window overlooking the forest! I had 24 hours to get signed off and anther 24 to move all my stuff and check out so i have been very busy, but luckily it all worked out. Today i had my evaluation with my teacher which went very well. Later i sold some of my old books and purchased new text books. I still have so much to do before Thursday, when i leave for home, so i need to get some rest!

One more day!

One day left of the quarter!!!! On Monday i gave a presentation in class for a heritage project. I focused on my Irish roots and cooked Potato Farl (basically a potato and flour flat bread cooked on a griddle) for the class; i also shared stories from the Alexander Genealogy. On Wednesday i gave a presentation for my independent study project which involved sharing stories from my experience at Garfield Elementary and showing pictures of the mural which is almost done! Last night Ezzy and i went to a concert hosted by Hip Hop Congress in the gym. The artists who played were Josh Martinez, One Be Lo, Macklemore, and The Elements. The show was a lot of fun(no riots occurred) and later i purchased a cd from Macklemore who signed it. He went to Evergreen two years ago and was very funny and nice. This morning i had to get up at 7:50 to register for classes online. The class i really wanted to enroll in is Educating on the Wild Side, however there was lots of interest shown in it so i was worried i would be unable to get a spot. Fortunately i did get one of the 46 spots and am super excited for this class next quarter. I then went back to sleep and woke up a few hours later, finally ready to start my day. The only work i had left to complete was my self evaluation and faculty eval. After finishing my papers i brought them to the writing center and got some feedback. Later i decided i needed to get out and went for a bike ride because is was so sunny and warm today(i wore shorts outside for the first time in a while)! I ended up riding downtown and found some cool bike routes. I took a picture at capital lake and relaxed there for a bit. When i got back i went to the sauna and now I'm going back to work.

Almost Done!!!

Last week of the Quarter!

I cant believe its arrived already, yet the end of the quarter is only a week away. This past week has been a blur filled with lots of work. The weather has also been crazy here, this morning it was hailing, then snowing, and now its sunny and clear. Last night i saw a very funny play which was produced solely by a class here. I knew a few people in it, and my favorite line from it was, "Baby this might sound sketch, but im so drawn too you." The play was about an artist and the various relationships which occur in his life. This morning Ezzy and i finished our rolls of film and returned the cameras. Soon we will learn to develop the negatives. Later after a short workout and sauna, i did some painting. The mural's really coming along and probably only 6 hours remain, i have been getting very positive comments from people and i might just end up doing another! I wish everyone could see it in person, these pics are from my phone so the colors don't look that sharp.

Academic Fair

Yesterday i attended the academic fair held on campus. A met with a few teachers and decided i want to take Educating on the Wild Side next quarter. I might also try to take metal shop, however its very competitive. Today was nice and sunny, however it just started pouring very hard. I have been very busy with work and class and things are starting to return to normal now. Im very excited for this week and might go see a movie. A friends brothers bands is playing downtown this weekend and i hope to check it out!

Mural

Mural

So far i estimate i have painted for at least 5 hours. It is exhausting painting a mural and the walls have lots of texture which makes it even more difficult. The painting really isn't as sinister as it looks, once its done it should look kinder.

Visiting the Mosque

The weather here sure can change quick, sometimes it rains and is freezing than a hour later it will be sunny and warm. Pretty crazy, well on Wednesday Ezzy and i went and took photos in downtown Olympia. I also received the money for my mural and purchased the paints and other materials. Yesterday i did lots of work and also began my painting. I have never done such a large painting before and it will take LOTS of time. Today my class went to a Mosque downtown and learned about Islam and the preconceptions surrounding it. We also got to witness a service during which people pray on the ground and read from the Koran. The Muslim and Jewish communities even gather together for Ramadan and Roshashana and reflect and learn about society and religion. It was interesting, however definitely not for me, its way too strict and sexist from my perspective. Ezzy's mom and sister flew in today and they are spending the weekend in Seattle. I spent some time with them after class. Well i have a few essays, a book, and a painting to work on this weekend, hopefully i will be able to squeeze in some time for a sauna.

Photography

Today i had a very fun day of class. In the morning we went to the darkroom(evergreen is one of the few schools that still had one, and its really nice) and developed photos we took last week. I really enjoyed this and plan on doing more outside of class. I will also learn how to develop the negatives eventually. Here is a photo i developed. Ezzy and i plan to rent cameras and go take photos over the next few days. Later our class had a guest speaker from a Herbal shop downtown. We learned about the benefits of pure essential oils and how they can be used as an antiseptic and bactericide. We also learned about the distillation process and the tiny molecular structure within. They brought samples in and showed us how to make bath salt. My room now smells like eucalyptus, rosemary, lavender, and ylang ylang. Unfortunately i don't think i will be taking a bath soon(our shower is pretty nasty). After class i went to the gym and i am going over to Ezzys house soon for dinner!

Exploring the Forest

Spring is slowly starting to roll in, and we have had many nice days recently. On Friday our class had a sacred text workshop then later went to a synagogue downtown. We had a seminar with an orthodox Rabbi and after a short shabat service we had a HUGE feast with koogle, matzo ball soup, and so much more. We will also learn about Islam and Christianity. Yesterday Ezzy and i went hiking through the forest and had a picnic on the beach. The forest is super muddy right now from all the snow melt! There are only two weeks left in the quarter and its time to finish everything up. I finally got my sketch approved by both the R.A. and G.O. and will be receiving some funds for paint in a few days!

Good Weekend with Good Weather

The past weekend was lots of fun and exausting! On Friday the 13th i went to a bloody valentine party which had live music. On Valentines Ezzy and i went into downtown and bought grocery. We cooked an awesome pasta vegi dish and had ice cream for desert. Over the weekend my friend Jose was up here visiting his girlfriend and we were able to hang out which was fun. Yesterday i went for a very nice run in the woods, got chased by dogs, and got very muddy! Today we started the darkroom photography in our class and also did a workshop on Plant Transplanting.

FRIDAY THE 13TH

All the snow has slowly been melting away and the days are starting to get longer. Last night some friends and i made an authentic Lebanese diner. A friend of mine from Lebanon had her family visiting and they brought food with them. We ate fresh hummus and peta bread, sweet green beans and tomatoes, salad, and nut treats! It was very good and i enjoyed eating a fresh organic meal. Today in class we learned about the Buddhism Ōryōki (means "just enough") meal ceremony and the gratitude shared for the food. I am starting another segment of my independent study project during which i will paint a mural in my dorm building stairwell. I just got my sketch approved and next i will receive funds for paints! Well tonight there is a bloody valentine party( fri the 13th and v day) which i am looking forward too!!

SNOW

Today i woke up to a very cold surprise, it was snowing outside despite the good weather we had been having! In the morning the snow was only around an inch or two deep but at the day progressed it started coming down harder and harder. Class today was held at the longhouse so i had a long wet walk over there. We have been doing some performance arts, and tomorrow we will be presenting a short play dealing with the sacredness of myth. My teacher gave a very interesting lecture today about taxonomy and how diversity sustains earth. On Friday our class is having a zen ritual meal and will start studying sacred texts.

Finally uploaded Mt. Rainier photos

check them out here http://picasaweb.google.com/zachausa/MtRainier?feat=directlink. I have had a very busy week with lots of reading plus i have been helping Ezzy move into the house. I am also starting a gardening project were i will plant a medicinal and herbal garden. The weather has been much warmer recently, however we have lots of rain moving in. Here is a picture of a mountain goat print i made in the studio.

Mt. Rainier

Silver Fox

A lot has happened this weekend, there was snow, sun, and rain. I had a relaxing weekend and hung out with lots of friends. Last night i saw a big white fox outside the bus stop, it was running around digging up the ground for food. Ezzy decided this weekend to move out of the dorms and she found a place only a block off campus. Last night there was a home warming party and she is slowly moving in. Well I'm going to town later and will grab diner with some friends!

Windows and Elementary School

Everyone has recently caught a cold and my head is throbbing while i write this. This weekend has been so busy. I attended a Tai Ji workshop which focused on the new year of the ox. I have been doing tremendous amounts of reading and have not had any free time. Over the weekend i wrote two papers and ended up cleaning windows at this guys house and made $16! Today i woke up at 7 and rode the bus into downtown where i spent the day at Garfield Elementary. I tutored in two first grade classrooms and mainly helped with reading and math. Over my lunch break i got some amazing pizza from Vic's which consisted of olives, peppers, and pesto. When i finally arrived home i felt so sick and took a little nap then sweat out my cold in the sauna. For dinner Ezzy and i went to the greenery where they had prepared special food for the new year. Just have a bit more reading then hopefully i can get to bed soon

Pack Forest

These past few days have gone by very fast! On Tuesday morning we left school at 10 so that we could view a little of the inauguration. The drive took about two hours because we got lost on Mt. Rainier. We finally found Pack Forest and after unloading we were assigned into cabins. The cabins were very nice and had electricity and bunk beds. Later we attended a lecture about the forest and ecology surrounding it. After this we went on a short hike to view the plants which lived in the forest. Most plants were frosted over, and ponds and lakes were iced over. We also did a charcoal art lesson later. The forest workers cooked us diner, in a large dinning hall, which consisted of pasta and salad. Unfortunately we could not have a fire that night due to a burn ban because of heavy fog. We had a fun music jam session that night and then went to bed.

We had breakfast at 8 on Wednesday. The food was very gross and the vegetarian options were fake meat. We left camp an hour later and drove to Nisqually and Michell river. Both rivers are huge and the Nisqually is very cold and dirty from glacial melt. We saw a juvenile bald eagle and learned about the trade of land between the government and the Native Americans. We then drove to Eatonville where a unhealthy salmon spawning river runs. This river had been destroyed due to loss of plants on the banks and flooding. We also found a little pond which was frozen about two inches. We drove back to camp and for lunch had make your own sandwiches. After lunch a group of us drove to the trail head of some waterfalls. We had a long intense hike through mud and icy rocks, but eventually found the falls. The waterfalls consisted of two separate falls, each one at least twenty feet high in the middle of a dense forest. After the hike we met with a special team which trains dogs to track animal scat in order to obtain data for information about certain animals. This is currently being done around the world with tigers, orca whales(tracking is done on boats. orca scat floats)... This technique is considered better because it does not traumatize wild animals, but can still extract data from scat. We then had a pastel art workshop which was fun. Dinner was gross and i mainly ate bread and fruit. After diner we had a night seminar then got together and kick it in a cabin.

On Thursday after breakfast we left camp at nine and drove to a wildlife refuge and learned about the restoration process. After this we headed home and unpacked. I went to the gym and sauna to rejuvenate myself before our night class. At six Ezzy and i went to a required theatre performance called Salmon People which was amazing! Now i am currently catching up on reading and work. The elementary school internship starts this Monday and i will be working from 9 till 3. I will also begin a small job aiding an elderly man with house and gardening choirs. I will post pictures soon!!!

Sunny Weekend

This weekend had been very nice. Friday our class went to downtown Olympia and talked to local businesses about community events. I ended up getting amazing Vietnamese food! On Friday night Ezzy and i went to a basketball game. Our team is surprisingly good and we defeated some christian school. On Saturday i ended up getting almost 16 hours of sleep!!! I was so exhausted and hadn't slept long in a while. Later Ezzy and I played some racquetball and worked out in the gym. On Tuesday my class will be going to Pack Forest which is on Mt. Rainer. We will be staying in cabins and learn about many environmental issues!

No Relaxation Time

Wow this past week has been a blur. I have been extremely busy and things are just starting to calm down. In class on Monday we starting doing print making in a very fancy studio. We are using linoleum for the stamp and will be printing them using presses and nice paper. I have had an immense amount of work this week including readings, translating the Dao De Jing(this book is amazing!!!), writing ssynthesis papers, and learning how to identify plants in winter. Last night i attended a great lecture from Dr. Gary Paul Nabhan on "Where Our Food Comes From: Restoring Diversity to Farm and Table". His speech was very interesting and mention the problem of crop diversity, seed banks, and growth from a changing climate. Today i woke up very early and caught a bus into downtown Olympia at 830. I had an interview with the principle from a local elementary school which went very well!!! We are just working out the schedule but soon i will be interning at Garfield Elementary. I will be working with kids of 1-5 grades and will mainly be aiding students with reading and math, but will also aid the teacher. I'm also eligible for an AmeriCorps program called Students in Service which would aid me with tuition vouchers. On the way back to campus i stopped at grocery outlet and found loaded up on cereal and milk. Soon i will be starting an independent project where i will be painting in my dorm stairwell. I'm still working on the sketch draft but hopefully i will be able to commence soon. Tomorrow my class is going to downtown Olympia to learn about art and activism! Well i NEED to catch up on sleep now, and will try to post to this blog more often. Also kinda interesting news, a cougar was spotted on campus today!

Seattle

This week has been super packed with many fun, yet stressing things. I met with the organization CCBLA(center for community based learning and action), and was referred to Garfield Elementary school. I still have to talk and meet with the principle, but things should work out. I would be leading small tutoring groups which sounds like fun. The school is located five miles away but luckily the bus runs right past it! Yesterday i drove to the Seattle Art Museum. It was a pretty relaxed drive until we got to the museum parking garage and the van did not fit the clearance. To make a long story short we eventually parked and the luckily the roof only got a little scratched. The museum was very interesting and had a very cool pacific northwest Native American exhibit. Today i washed an immense load of laundry and have just been getting little things done. Its raining now but hasn't gotten to cold yet.

Snow

Its mostly been raining but here a sideshow of snow pics at Evergreen http://photo.evergreen.edu/portal/SnowdayatEvergreen/index.html. Im narrowing my focus for my internship down to nature conservation and education. I have found many schools and groups in the area which hold many opportunities. I spending today finishing work and readings then i hope to get to the gym and sauna. I also have the first day of my painting class today which im excited about!

Back at School

I had my first day of class today, and it went very well. This quarter we are doing internships (which start very soon), printmaking, photography(darkroom), and will be translating texts such as Dao de Jing, Torah, Quran. We also have many trips and this week we will be going to the Seattle Art Museum, then a trip to downtown Olympia(cultural and activism aspects) the next week, and finally a trip to Pack Forest which is in the foothills of Mount Rainier the week after. Today i was fortunate enough to get to got to the gym and sauna!!! The weather has been better these past few days for it is only raining, however there are large piles of snow scattered around. Only one person has moved out of our sweet and his spot was filled with Kyle who i haven't talked to yet.